Underwater grading means



Nov. 28, 1961 A. G. MATELICH UNDERWATER GRADING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. '5, 1960 INVENTOR. v-M

ANDREW e. MATELICH Nov. 28, 1961 A. G. MATELICH UNDERWATER GRADING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 3, 1960 QANDREW G. MATELICH INVENTOR. ,M

Nov. 28, 1961 A. G. MATELICH 3,010,231

UNDERWATER GRADING'MEANS Filed Nov. '6, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ANDREW G. MATELIGH INVENTOR.

Nov. 28, 1961 A. G. MATELICH UNDERWATER GRADING MEANS 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Nov. 5, 1960 FIG FIG

ANDREW e. MATELI'CH INVENTOR.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,010,231 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,231 UNDERWATER GRADING MEANS Andrew G. Matelich, 21039 Pacific Highway 5., Seattle 88, Wash. Filed Nov. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 67,126 7 Claims. (Cl. 37-54) This present invention relates to grading mean of the type employing a vertically adjustable scraper blade and more particularly this invention relates to grading means having a blade similar in many respects to a bulldozer blade which is moved by means of a floating support adjustably coupled to the grading blade and the whole moved back and forth by power operated cables.

With the greatly increased impetus in water sports of all kinds and particularly with the creation of new bodies of water by dams and the like there is a tremendous increase in the demand for uniformly sloping beaches that can be used safely by persons of all ages. This calls for the grading of underwater portion of the beaches to prevent drop-ofis or depressions that have long been hazardous to swimmers, waders and the like. This present invention is provided with all the means required to repeatedly move a bulldozer-like grading blade across a beach and these means are adjustable so that uniform grading can be achieved whether it is on the level, or as is more common, gradually sloping from the waters edge out into deep water. In many localities the lake or river bottoms are not suitable for use as bathing beaches due to the type of bottom encountered. The ideal bottom for recreational purposes is a smooth, sandy beach but these rarely occur on man-made bodies of water. It is more common to encounter rocky beaches, or beaches with large gravel or at the other extreme to find mud bottom which normally retain sunken objects, especially water-logged wood making a surface to use as beaches that is not only unpleasant but unsafe as well. This present equipment has all the facilities required to remove and lift the mud and debris from a lake bottom and to carry it out into deep water where it can be dissipated. Then a suitable overlay of sand can be uniformly graded over the remaining beach surface so as to convert it into an attractive, sanitary and safe beach.

The principal object of my present invention therefore is to provide an underwater grading means capable of moving earth, gravel and the like under water much as a bulldozer or grader moves the same on dry land.

A further object of this invention is to provide a buoyant, stable platform on which the necessary gear to control a grading blade can be mounted so that it can be adjusted from this platform to accommodate the grade and movement of materials desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for moving the buoyant platform so that the grading blade may be used over a large area of underwater beach.

A further object is to provide pontoon means which can be very rigidly secured to a buoyant platform so that the unit of the platform and pontoons can withstand the shock and strain incidental to moving a grader blade under water where it is not normally visible due to the rolling of the water.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of my underwater grading device with certain parts broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation taken in the same sense as FIGURE 1 and showing the cutting blade and the means for adjustably positioning it.

FIGURE 3 illustrates one means for maneuvering my underwater grader.

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to that of FIGURE 3but showing the employment of anchors, such as the tail anchor for my cable operating means.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of buoyant platform with part of the platform broken away to better illustrate the manner in which the pontoons are rigidly secured to the platform members.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 1. 7

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of one of the pontoons as viewed from the left of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE '8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a pontoon, a section of the platform, and the means employed to secure the platform to the pontoon.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like refenence characters indicate like parts, the numeral 10 designates generally the floating platform which forms the base and supporting means for the underwater grader and the mechanism required to manipulate the same in grading operations. Platform 10 consists of at least two spaced-apart pontoon as 12 and 14. The two pontoons are held in spaced relationship by the transverse beams 16 which also supply the framework upon which the plank platform 18 is disposed. The details of construction of the pontoons and the anchor means for the transverse tie is illustrated generally in FIGURE 5 and in detail in the fragmentary views of FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. It is to be borne in mind that the load on the scraper is quite comparable to that exerted by the bulldozer on it blade. Many times it may be found impossible to see underground obstructions, thereby placing tremendous shock loading on the pontoons, the platform, and the various associated parts. It therefore follows that the pontoons must be rigidly secured to cross members 16. Reference is made specifically to FIGURE 8, in which it will be noted that an angle bar 20 is secured, preferably by welding, to the pontoon as 12, and one of these occurs on opposite sides of the pontoon as will be noted in FIG- URES 6 and 7. Adapted to be joined to the diametrically opposed angles 20 is a partially encircling band 22. This band is preferably not welded to the pontoon but is held in tight frictional engagement with it by the plurality of bolts 24, Band 22 is fixedly secured to the transverse beams 16 which are preferably structural steel members. As previously noted, due to the shock loading that may be placed upon this equipment in use, beam 16 is very securely anchored to band 22. This is done by a steel gusset 26 welded at each contact edge. The band is welded to beam 16 as at 28. Additionally a substantial strap 30 is welded both to beam 16 and band 22, the Weld being well shown at 3 1 in FIGURE 8. At the opposite side of the pontoon brackets are provided at 32, preferably one at each transverse beam.

Disposed above .deck 18 is a cable winch 36. This is normally an internal combustion engine driven winch, having the internal combustion engine shown generally at 38 and a plurality of power driven cable drums 40. Disposed above platform 18 is an upper framework consisting of a plurality of beams as 42 which in turn are supported by a plurality of posts 44. A suitable roof 45 may be supported by suitable transverse. members 46 so as to protect the equipment and the personnel employed in its use from the weather. A single main beam 42 may be employed but normally a plurality of beams will be used to support the various cable blocks 47, 48 and the like.

Disposed between pontoons 12 and 14 is the grader supporting beam 50. This beam is pivotably supported at 51. This pivot is normally a heavy bolt passing r. 3 through two spaced anchors 52. These are probably best shown in FIGURE 6. Two spaced-apart beams 50 are employed and these are well spaced transversely by horizontal members 54 and a plurality of diagonal members 55 providing a trussed frame to insure a strong fixed support for the pivots 51 which position beams 50. Intermediate beams 53 are secured to two of said transverse beams to provide a fixed anchorage for said anchor members 52. Beam 50 is positioned vertically by means of tackle cable 56 which passes through blocks 48 and 58 to provide adequate purchase to support beams 50 and to hold them in various adjusted positions. At the outer ends ofbeams 50 pivots 58 are provided for the cutting blade supporting framework 60. A desirable relationship is shown in FIGURE 2 in which it will be noted that there is a preponderantly heavy outer portion of frame 60 and this weight is further increased by the leveling and cutting blade 62. will normally always engage beams 50 at 64. Consequently cable 56 and the tackle it serves will lift framework 60 as is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

."In order to separately adjust frame 60, frame adjusting cable 661is employed passing out through block 47. It will be evident that reeling in cable 66 can only revolve frame 60 about pivots 58 and will not normally be used to adjust the position of beams 50.

Cable 66 is employed chiefly to adjust the angle of attack of blade 62 and as beam 50 descends into deeper water at a greater angle, the desirable angle of attack can be controlled by cable 66. In order to limit the amount that-cutting edge 62 can penetrate into the lake With such an arrangement frame 60,

bottom a skid bar 70 is provided. This bar preferably has its front end pivoted at 72 and its rear end adjustably positioned at 73. A check chain 71, of adjustable length, is secured .to beam 50 and to beam 60.

Maneuvering means for my grading device is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. A main line cable 74 is secured to the offshore end of my buoyant platform as indicated at 75. This cable, which must be substantial, passes around a sheave or tail-hold block 76 which is in turn mounted on a buoyant platform 77. Platform 77 must be secured by very strong means to suitable anchors. These may bedolphins made up of a number of piles in a bound together cluster as indicated at 78 and 79 or in some instances they may consist of suitable heavy anchors as 80 and 81. The choice of which type to use will normally be determined by the depth of water'or the type of bottom encountered. Whichever form of tailhold is provided it is necessary to be able to move platform 77 in a line generally parallel to the tail-hold means,

' whether piling or anchors, as this is the only means preferably secured to the cutting edge or blade frame- Having thus disclosed my invention,

I claim:

1. An underwater grading means, comprising: a floating platform supported by parallel disposed and spaced apart pontoons; means for securing said pontoons in fixed relationship to each other; a plurality of grader supporting means pivotably supported at one end between said pontoons; 'a tackle cable for adjustably supporting said grader supporting beams; a power driven winch drum for controlling said tackle cable; a blade supporting framework; pivots at the opposite end of said grader supporting beams for pivotably supporting said framework; said framework having a preponderance of weight on the outwardly disposed end of said framework causing it to tend to revolve about said pivots and the inner end of said framework normally caused to engage the underside of said supporting beams; a framework adjusting cable secured to the outwardly disposed end of said framework for changing the angular relationship between the grader supporting beams and the blade supporting framework; a leveling and cutting blade disposed transversely of said blade supporting framework and pivoted at each of its ends to said framework; skid bars disposed directly below said framework and pivoted in spaced relationship therefrom at their front ends and adjustably secured to said blade at their rear ends and means for maneuvering said floating platform.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said means for securing said pontoons in fixed relationship to each other, comprising: a plurality of transverse beams disposed across the tops of said pontoons; short angle bars secured on each side of saidpontoons and under said transverse beams; a metal band fixedly secured to the underside of each of said beams and terminating at each end in angularly disposed ends adapted to overlay said angle bars and a plurality of bolts securing said bands and said angle bars together.

3. The subject matter of claim 1 in which each of said grader supporting beams are pivoted between two spaced anchor members of triangular outline; longitudinally disposed intermediate beams secured to said transverse beams and providing fixed anchorage for said anchor members; truss means composed of horizon-tally and diagonally disposed mem bers fixedly secured between the spaced pairs of anchor members.

4. An underwater grading means, comprising: a floating platform supported by parallel disposed and spaced apart pontoons; means for securing said pontoons in fixed relationship to each other; a plurality of grader supporting beams pivotably supported atone end between said pontoons; a tackle cable for adjustably supporting said grader supporting beams; a power driven winch drum for controlling said tackle cable; a blade supporting framework, pivots at the opposite end of said grader supporting beams for pivotably supporting said framework, said framework having a preponderance of weight on the outwardly disposed end of said framework and the inner end of said framework normally engaging the underside'of said supporting beams; a frame adjusting cable secured to the outwardly disposed end of saidframe for changing the angular relationship between the grader supporting beams and the blade supporting framework; an upper framework disposed on said floating platform having a plurality of vertical posts, longitudinal beams secured thereto and transverse beams secured to said longitudinal beams to provide an upper framework; a leveling and cutting blade disposed transversely of said blade supporting framework and pivoted at each of its ends to said framework; skid bars disposed directly below said framework and pivoted in spaced relationship therefrom at their front ends and adjustably secured to said blade at their'rear ends and means for maneuvering'said floating platform.

5. The subject matter of-claim 4 in which said tackle cable is provided with a fixed cable block supported from said upper framework and a movable cable block secured to said grader supporting beams.

6. The subject matter of claim 4 in which said frame adjusting cable is secured to the outer end of said blade supporting framework and led through a cable block supported by said upper framework and a cable winch on said floating platform having a power driven drum on which said frame adjusting cable is spooled to provide a means for adjusting the angle of attack of said blade.

7. The subject matter of claim 4 in which said means for maneuvering said floating platform, comprises: a buoyant platform and spaced mooring means to which said platform is adjustably secured; a tail-hold cable block secured to said floating platform; a vehicle having a power drum and dual cable guide means and said vehicle capable of moving along the shoreland of an area to be worked by said grading means; a second vehicle capable of mov- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4,968 Campbell Jan. 22, 1828 486,957 Schaifer Nov. 29, 1892 2,178,265 Peterson Oct. 31, 1939 2,606,375 Braun et al Aug. 12, 1952 

